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After moving all over the United States as a Navy brat, Amy Johnson calls Elkin her home.

“I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else,” Johnson said. “I like being where I know people, and they know me.”

Born in New Haven, CT and living in places like Florida, Rhode Island, Virginia and Tennessee, Johnson came to Elkin in August 1988 when she was hired as Elkin United First Methodist’s choir director.

She has worked with adult and children’s choirs and hand bells for 24 years.

“My goal is to tell the story of God through music,” she said. “We have a traditional worship service and we sometimes blend in some of the more contemporary music.”

Since 1989, Johnson has also been active the Community Choir and their performance every Christmas.

Johnson’s music journey began when she was 14 year old and started playing the organ.

“I loved the organ and started taking lessons, because training has to start early with the organ,” she said. “I then started playing the organ at my church and substituting at other churches.”

She continued her musical training at Huntington College in Montgomery, Ala. after hearing a professor perform.

“I heard a professor perform on the organ, and I liked the way he played,” Johnson said. “I followed him to Huntington College so I could study with him.”

Johnson completed her schooling at Duke Divinity School. A choir director job is not the only thing she found at Elkin First United Methodist, but also a husband.

“I met my husband as he was singing in the choir,” she said. “We started dating and have been married for 21 years.”

Her favorite hymn is “For the Beauty of the Earth,” because it was played at her wedding and is about family, church and the world.

Johnson and her husband, Dave, also have a 18 year old son, Joel, who just graduated from Elkin High School.

While her son was in school, Johnson volunteered with the Elkin Elementary School PTA and her husband was a reading buddy at the middle school. The school system is something else Johnson loves about Elkin.

“I liked being able to go to the school and eat lunch with my son,” she said. “I love that my son was able to go to a community school system and be successful there.”

Full name: Amy Johnson

Job: Choir director at Elkin First United Methodist

How long been at job: 24

Favorite food: pasta and chocolate

Favorite pastime: Cook, read, crossword and jigsaw puzzles

Pet: Terrior mix, Ike

Church: Elkin First United Methodist

Family: Husband, Dave, and son, Joel

Residence: Elkin

City born in: New Haven, CT

Reach Jessica Pickens at 835-1513 ext. 18 or jpickens@heartlandpublications.com.